Band wheel construction



Jan. 16, 1940. J, B, mm@ 2,187,693

l BAND WHEEL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 790W Nm mm NIN, mw. M ww hwmww mw NNN ww m\ www 1 w% WL. u w mN\ bwlwv l QN @WN .KN m 1 NN QN .w 1 m. b? w QNIMMMK NN |1\MN Il' www bm m. OU Q N .wf mm www@ Jan. 16, 1940. B, P|CARD 2,187,693

BAND WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1940 Ulsu'rro STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAND WHEEL CON STRCTION John B. Picard, Toledo, Ohio, assigner to The National Supply Company, corporation offPennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a

'Application July 3, 1937, Serial No. 151,863

' `11 claims. (c1. rfi-230.9)

` This invention relates-generally to band Wheel pumping powers and more particularly to improvements in the construction of theband wheel. `The band wheel of a 'pumping power is a large diameter wheel rotatably supported on a vertical axis and having a rim provided with a smooth outer p'eripheralfsurface arranged to receive and` carry a running belt'for driving the pumping power. The hub. of the wheel is connectedto acrankoran eccentric disc which workswithin an outer portionv driving'the lat terl in an orbital path. Pull rods are connected to the outer portion ofthe eccentric and eX- tend radially therefrom toV the oil well pumping apparatus in the field, thus providing a reciprocating motion for the operation thereof. A pumping power centrally located within an oil field maythusv furnish power to a number of oil wells. This manner' of central pumping is not new in theV art' and has beenfhighly'developed along certain linesof the vpumping power mechanism which deal with problems of lubrication and crank or eccentric construction."k

",Thesle 4band wheelsare constructed in various ,sizes rangingfrom twelve to thirty-six feet in "diameter and the widthorfface of the rim may vary' from twelveto thirty inches. u It is impractical to build a `wheel Aof this size and char` acter for shipment in onepiece. It is therefore designed and constructed` in such a manner that it may bev easily assembledin the eld. Manyv forms fof `wheel construction 'have been resorted to`in"the` past to producea structure that when assembled in the eld provides a true WheeL,

. which is a diiiculttaskjespecially in view of the fact that the rimsof thesewheels u are composed of from four or six sections.

The problem has been approached from different angles involving the use of diierent types of spokes, bracings and .tie rods'having different modes of adjustment and'attachment. The tie rods have been s et radially and tangentially relatively to the hub. I'hey have been of the bolt` or rod type, the former being threaded atsone end and the latter being threaded at both `ends.` The ends of the tie, rods have `beenangularly disposed with respect to the axis thereof in the manner of the ordinary construction of an automobile or bicycle wheel. Again the upper tie rods' vhave been designed to cross the lower tie rods adjacentthe rim of the wheel. However, these designs provided a rigid anchoring ymeans for the tie rods `of the wheel and usually resorted to turnbuckles `for adjusting the wheel `to maintain itstrueness, which, is dicultl (sometimes` impossible to do especially when the parts lose internal stresses causingthem to Warp or become warped due to improper adjustment followed by long usage.

The principalY object of .this invention is the provision of a new and improved construction of a loandwheel.` 1

Y.linotherobject of this invention is the provisionof means for maintaining the trueness of a band wheel during operation.

Another object is the provisio-nfof means permitting rapid and efficient assembly of a band wheel.

Another object relates to the simplicity of construction of a band wheel.

Another object is the `provision of improved means for adjusting the band wheel.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description. i Y 'I Inthe accompanying drawings wherein a practical embodiment of the principles of this invention Uare illustrated:

i" Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section taken through a band wheel showing the application of thisinvention, with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View illustrating a complete bandwheel assembly. l

' Fig. 3' isa p lan View of a band wheel showing the relative position of the members thereof, with parts brokenv away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of an anchor member which forms a part of this invention.

"Fig 5 is' a plan View of the anchor member shown in Fig. 4. .i

Fig. 6 is 'a perspective view of a self-adjusting rrwasher foruse in connection with a tie rod and the anchormember shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

' Referring to the drawings, Iii represents `the band wheel which includes generally the hub II, the spoke and tie rod structure' I2, and the rim I3. o The hub structure I Il is `provided with a hollowvbore to receive the usual upright spindle for wheel and its as- Thus I 4 represents the bottom hub-section', the 55/ of the casting.

lower portion l5 of which forms the arm or attachment of the upper eccentric indicated at I6 in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. An annular shoulder I1 is formed on the lower perimetral surface of the, hub I4 above the arm I5. This shoulder is cored out to provide the upwardly open T-slots portion of this section is provided with an an-y nular seat 24 arranged to receive the upper end 1 of the bottom hub-section I4 and an annular flange 25V coextensive with `the flange 20 of the hub-section I4. f y y The ilanges 20 and y255 and theuplate 22 are provided with alignedghoylesifor pinningorkotherwise securing the parts in assembled relation.

The upper hub section 23 is conical in shape to provide improved stress distribution within the structure and it extends appreciably above the rim' I3. This construction produces aparticular advantage as will be seen from the following description. TheupperV end ofthe hub-section 23 `is provided with a pair of internal annular flanges 26 and 21 forming between them an annular groove 28 which is reenforced by these lianges. "Eplurality' of uniformly spaced holes are formedin the groove 28' through thewall of the hub to receive the upper tierods 29. These holes are sutciently large 4to permit the insertion ofthe tie rod through the open end'of the upper hub section.

30 represents the spokes of the wheel which are preferablyvform'ed of -channel iron andV are radial of the hub with thel channel `turned up-A wardly. Adjacent the hub the web of the channel is reenforced by the stripplate 3| welded therein. The web and the strip 37| are provided with spaced holes which arel aligned with 4spaced holes in the spoke-hub-plate 22, thereby vproviding an advantageous manner of securing the inner ends of the spokes to the hub structure.

TheY outer. ends of the channel spokes are squared and the end portions of the webs are arranged to iit into the Slotted openings 32 of the anchor members 33, while'the squared ends of the flanges abut against shoulders on the anchor members, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5. The

edgesof the webs and flanges of the spokes are welded. tothe anchor members as indicated at 34 in Figs.4and5.` i V The anchormember is bifurcated and resem- `bles a stirrup, the horizontal section 35 of which is provided with spaced parallel-lugs v36 extend-` ing thereabove and therebelow. The lugs 36 are provided at their outer ends with vthe slots 32 for receiving the web of the channel spokes 3U. The other ends of the' lugs 36 are provided with aligned concave arcuate seats 31 which form a cradle or shoe on each side'of the horizontal section 35. The bifurcated portions 38 which extend from the ends of the section`35 are provided with inwardly extending reenforcing flanges 3S and terminate in the parallel'clamping plates 40 which are-provided with spaced aligned holes 4I for securing the outer end of the anchor members to the rim of the band wheels.

42 represents a semi-cylindrical washer of sufficient length to span the gap betweenv the spaced lugs and permit the cylindrical surface to rest on the cradle seats 31. Intermediate of its ends the Washer 42 is provided with a 'hole 43 for receiving the threaded endsof the upper or lower tie rods,` as the case may be.

The rim of the band wheel illustrated -in the drawings is made up in six' arcuate sections as indicated at 44 in Fig. 2.` The longitudinal edges and the ends ofeach of these sections are turned inwardly to form the flanges 45. At each end of Ya-section a plate 46 is inserted between the flanges 45 and welded to the 4web and flanges of the section. The` corresponding plates 46 of ad-y jacent sections 44 abutand are provided with registering holes to receive bolts or other connecting means. y p v Two transverse ribs 41 are placed in spaced relation in each rim section and welded across the channel and tothe upper and lower ilanges i of-the rim, as indicated'at 48 in Fig. 1. Each of the ribs l41 is provided with spaced holes 49 to receive the bolts 50 whichextend Vthrough the holes 4I of the plates40 kon thebifurcated rend ofthe anchor members 33 and which straddles they rib,y thereby securing the anchor members' After the hub IIl has been'assembled and the' spokes'30 with their anchor members have been.

attached 'thereto the rim sections are secured together and to the anchor'members. The semicylindrical washers$42 and the nuts 5I are placed on the ends of the lower toe rods I9. "The bolt heads ofeach vof the lower tie rodsare then dropped into theA T-slots I8 of the shoulder. .|1I

and the outer ends of'these rodsare moved up between theflower lugs 36. andv held in position.

byinserting 'a cotter key in the aligned holes 52,'

in' thelower lugs 36 as indicated in Fig. v`4.

The upper' tie rodsl 29 are Ainserted through the openf end of the hub Il and outwardly through their respective holes in the channel 28,'

and the semi-cy1indrical washers 42`and the nuts 5I are lplaced on'` the outer end of the rods. Each of the tie vrods'2ll are then placed in theirrespective positionsv between the upper lugs `36. By drawing up the nuts 5I fon'the lower and upper tie rods the arcuate surfaces of the semi-cylindrical washers 42 engage the'cradle seats 31 ofv the anchor member.l By tightening up the nuts.

5I ,uniformly around the` wheel onemay observe the irregularities 'in' the perimetral surface and correct such irregularitiesby properly adjusting' v the tie rods controlling thesection -that is oute of true. When making suchadjustments on one. tierod the semi-cylindrical washers of the other` tie rods may move in their cradle and thereby. retain their tension but shift their'v component force and thereby maintain the true position of Y the rim.

The chief aim in truing'y a band. wheel is to maintain a true vertical beltlrunning face.

and parts of some oi said sections must be pulled into line. Thus by applying the tie rods in mov- To,l obtain this vcondition.eachjuof the rim sections able cradle"fsockets on vthe anchor members, a swivel action is obtained between thespoke assembly lf2I and the rim I3. In the present type of bandl wheel construction such `an adjustment isfpracticallytimpossible because the inner perimetra-l surface is providedr with` a centrally disposed annularfiange towhichthespokes and tie rod` assembly is secured and therevislno means for controlling theadjustmentof the upper and lower edgesof the rim. This constructional fault resultsy in the formation ofa pronounced ridge along the center of the belt face which is known asa crowned belt face. Infact a. wheel of this character depends largely'upon such a crown to. maintain the belt in its true running position, whereas the structure comprising this invention does not depend solely upon the crowningon` the belt` face but provides for an adjustment of the face itself although slight crowning may be ern? ployed in addition thereto. r

Itwill` be noted that the upper section of the hub structurell extends materially above the upper edge of the rim I3, whereas the lower section extends to a less degree below the lower edge ofthe rim. This is an old expediency in the construction of a band wheel, and the principalreason for this construction is to provide Va sufficient lifting advantage for supporting the heavy suspended mass of the rim of the band wheel. By supporting the rim from diametric points on the hub as illustrated in Fig. 3 a symmetrical balance is obtained in the wheel structure and the hub structure supports a dead vertical load in thev manner similar to a tent pole. However, when in use the distributed forces may become unbalanced due to vibrations of the belt, or unbalanced loads which are supplied by the mechanism together with the fact that a belt may only contact or be carried by a portion of the wheel` Thus to aid in relieving any momentary strains on opposite parts of the wheel the upper section of the hub is frusto conical in shape, thereby aiding in resisting unbalanced reach spoke adjacent the outer end thereof, pairs of tie rods on opposite sides of the spokes supported in said socketsand connecting the hub and the outer end of the spokes, each pair of tie rods being disposed in the same plane as a corresponding spoke.

2. In a band wheel, the combination with a hub, a peripheral rim and radial spokes connecting the hub and rim, of a socket in said hub above and below each spoke and in alignment therewith, a socket in the top and bottom of each spoke adjacent the outer end thereof, pairs of tie rods on opposite sides of the spokes supported in said sockets and connecting the hub and the outer end of the spokes, each pair of tie rods being disposed in the same plane as a correspondin g spoke, each assembly of a spoke and tie rods being disposed diametrically to another of said assemblies.

3. In a band wheel, the combination with a hub, a peripheral rim and radial spokes connecting the hub and rim, of a socket in said hub above andlbeloweach spoke and in alignmentv therewith, a socket inthe top and bottom of each spoke adjacent the outer end thereof, pairs of tie rods supported in said..sockets and connecting the hub and the outer-` end of the spokes, each pairbeing disposed nfthe same plane as alcorresponding spoke, the sockets in said spokes and their correspondingtie rods-having arcuate mating surfaces to provide ',fiexibility Ito facilitate truing the wheel. i i 4. jIn a band wheel, the combination of a hub, radial spokes connected lto the hub, a ,peripheral rim, said rim comprising arcuate sections having any outerl band receiving surface with inwardly angedlperimetral edges, plates disposed radially tothe band receiving, surface and securedto the flanges and the inner surface` of the sections at the ends of the latter, means for` connecting theV adjacent plates" of the arcuate sections `to complete the ,rim, ribwmembers fixed to the innersurface of\.said arcuate rim sections and to said flanged edges, said ribs being spaced from said plates, and means connectingftheouter end of the spokes to said ribs.

5. In a band wheel, a rim structure comprising arcuate sections having an outer band-receiving surface and their longitudinal` edges hanged inwardly, and plates disposed radially to the band-receiving surfaces .and secured to the flanges and the inner surface of the sections at the ends of the latter, said plates being provided with bolt holes for connecting the sections together to complete the rim.

6. Anchor meansy for connecting the tie rods of a band wheel to the rimof the latter comprising a plurality `of members each having spaced clamping plates arranged to be secured to the rim and provided with a plurality of arcuate surfaces, and means on the tie rods engaging said surfaces to permit adjustment therebetween, the arcuate surfaces and said means permitting the tie rods to swivel transversely f to the plane of the wheel.

7. Anchor means for connecting the tie rods of a band Wheel to the rim of the latter comprising a plurality of members each having spaced clamping plates arranged to be secured to the rim and provided with a plurality of arcuate surfaces, means on the tie rods engaging said surfaces to permit adjustment therebetween, the arcuate surfaces and said means permitting the tie rods to swivel transversely to the plane of the Wheel, and means for connecting the spokes to said members. g

8. An anchor for connecting the spokes and tie rods of a band wheel to the rim thereof which comprises a bracket arranged to be secured to the inner face of the rim, a pair of vertically disposed members on said bracket, said members being spaced apart for receiving tie rods therebetween, aligned arcuate surfaces `on said members for receiving cross. members arranged to be secured to tie rods to permit the rods to swivel transversely to the plane of the wheel when adjusted, and means on the bracket for receiving a spoke of the Wheel.

9. In a band wheel, the combination of a hub, symmetrically positioned spokes extending radially from said hub, an annular rim having an outer peripheral belt surface, ribs fixed to the inner surface of said rim, said ribs being parallel with the axis of said hub and positioned adjacent the end of said spokes, an anchor member secured to the end of each spoke and having spaced clamping plates for connecting said spokes to said ribs, sockets on eaohside of said anchonmembers, upper and lower-tie rods extending from said hub and connected tov said sockets ,on opposite sides of said spokes, and means -for adjusting .the effective length. of said tie rods for on the' end of each spoke having connections in spaced relation for fastening each spoke to its corresponding ribsocketson each side of said anchor members, upperfand lower; tie rods extending from said hub and connected to 'said sockets on opposite sides of said spokes, and means for adjusting the effective length of said tie rods for tilting the peripheral surface of said rim to accommodate .the run of a belt'.

. 11. In a band wheel, the `combination of a hub, symmetrically positioned spokes vextending ,radially. from saidhub, an annular rim having an outer peripheral belt surface, ribs fixed to the inner surface of said rim, said ribs being parallel with thev axis of said hub and positioned adjacent -the'end of said spokes, means connecting said spokes to said ribs, lugs on said means extending thereabove and therebelow, aligned. arcuate surfaces on the outer vertical face of said lugs aboveand below the axial center of the spokes forming arcuate seats, upper and lower tie rods extending from said hub, members on the outer end of said tiel rods. having a complementary arcuate surface for engaging the arcuate seat on said lugs, and means for adjusting the effective length of said tie rods, thereby tilting the peripheralsurface of said rim to accommodate the run of a belt without producing bend--y ing strains on said tie rod.

JOHN B. PICARD.' 

